Electric switch



Oct. 20, 1953 A. H. MIDGLE Y 2,656,423

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 15. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 'Zzz/ventol i.lZ.Hz/'0 Ly A. H. MIDGLEY ELECTRIC SWITCH Oct. 20, 1 953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15. 1951 .Zzvuen EH1;

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 ELECTRIC SWITCH Albert Henry Midgley, Northwood, England, as-

signor of one-half to Albert Morrell Midgley,

Northwood, England Application January 15, 1951, Serial No. 206,003 In Great Britain January 17, 1950 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric switches for use with traffic indicators on motor vehicles.

In the specification of U. S. patent specification Serial No. 123,195 I have described and claimed a delay action electric switch for periodically breaking the circuit during the period of delay so as to operate a flashing signal to indicate the direction in which a vehicle is about to turn.

An object of the present invention is to increase the sphere of usefulness of such a switch so as to make it particularly suitable for use on motorbuses and other commercial vehicles, and the invention consists in providing a delay action switch as above with additional contacts by which the switch may also operate the usual semaphore arms either in addition to, or in substitution for, tho flasher signals.

The invention further consists of a delay action switch in which switch arms for operating right and left semaphore arms are adapted to be acted upon to close the circuit by means of a cam and the said cam also carries a contact arm adapted to make contact with one or other of two plates in which flasher signal contacts are in electrical connection.

The invention also consists in the provision of means for protecting the switch mechanism against damage due to shock in the event of an operative member of the switch being roughly handled by th driver.

The invention also consists in the provision of a tell-tale lamp adapted to indicate whether or not the circuit is in order.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the description given hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an axial section of a switch according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a section of the switch on the line 22 of Figur l on a reduced scale;

Figure 3 is a section of the switch on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 on a reduced scale;

Figure 4 is a rear end elevation of the switch.

In carrying my invention into effect in one convenient manner I form the body of my improved switch in two parts, the main part I containing the delay action clockwork and contact mechanism, while the other part or cover 2 has mounted therein a spindle 3 on which is secured the switch handle 4 adapted to be manipulated by the driver. The inner end of the said spindle carries a steel or other substantial arm 5 having a bifurcated end adapted to embrace a Phosphor bronze or like arm 6 mounted upon a spindle 1 in the main part of the switch body on which is also mounted a cam 8 for setting in operation the clockwork mechanism substantially in the manner described in my earlier specifications. On the inner side of the cover I form lugs 9 adapted to limit the extent of angular movement of the steel or other rigid arm, and the arrangement is such that if the switch handle is roughly manipulated the switch mechanism will be completely protected from shock since the force of impact will be taken by the rigid arm contacting one or other of the said lugs.

So far as concerns the clockwork, clockwork operating Working mechanism, and flasher signal operating switch mechanism, my improved switch may be formed much in the manner described in the earlier specifications. In addition to the said mechanism, however, I provide two additional contacts with switch arms [0 associated therewith in circuit with the mechanism for operating the rightand left-hand semaphore arms as commonly provided upon motor vehicles. The switch arms are adapted to be acted upon to close the circuit by means of a cam ll mounted upon the main spindle 1 and the said cam also carries a contact arm 12 adapted to make contact with one or other of two plates I3 with which the flasher 1 signal contacts are in electrical connection, the

circuit being extended from the contact arm by means of the conducting arm l2a. Conveniently, the right-hand semaphore contact I0 and the left-hand flasher contact plate l3 will be adjacent one another at one side of the switch while the left-hand semaphore and right-hand flasher are adjacent at the other side of the switch. The arrangement is such that on moving the switch handle to one side to indicate a contemplated left-hand turn, for example, the left-hand semaphore arm will be moved out and the left-hand flasher signal will be operated and after th period of delay the circuits of both will be broken.

If necessary or desirable I may provide a telltale lamp l3a in series with both semaphore and flasher circuits and in parallel with a resistance. the lamp being associated with an additional battery contact l4, there being thus two battery contacts to one (M) or other (l5) of which the battery terminal (usually the positive) will be connected according as the tell-tale lamp is to be in the circuit or not.

It is usual with semaphore arm indicators to have the semaphore arms illuminated by lamps arranged therein, and in accordance with my invention the flasher mechanism may be adapted to act upon such lamps or, if desired, I may provide entirely separate flasher signal lamps.

It will be appreciated that by suitable arrangements the flasher and semaphore signals may both be used at the same time or either may be used apart from the other.

The arrangement is such that if the switch handle is roughly manipulated the time mechanism will be completely protected from shock.

It is to be understood that the invention extends broadly to a delay action switch embodying means for actuating flasher signals and also for actuating semaphore signals and the invention therefore is not to be limited to the particular details of construction which have hereinbefore been given by way of example to describe the nature of the invention and not to limit its scope.

I claim:

1. An electric switch for use with traffic indicators on motor vehicles comprising a switch handle, a spindle adapted to be rotated by the switch handle, a cam adapted to be rotated by the spindle, radially opposed electric switch contacts adapted to be closed by rotation of the cam in one direction, further radially opposed electric switch contacts adapted to be closed by rotation of the cam in the opposite direction, an arm on the cam, axially opposed electric switch contacts adapted to be closed by the rotation of the arm in one direction, and further axially opposed electric switch contacts adapted to be closed by rotation of the arm in the opposite direction.

2. An electric switch for use with traffic indicators on motor vehicles comprising a switch handle, a spindle adapted to be rotated by the switch handle, a cam adapted to be rotated by the spindle, radially opposed electric switch contacts adapted to be closed by rotation of the cam in one direction, further radially opposed electric switch contacts adapted to be closed by rotation of the cam in the opposite direction, a conducting arm on the cam, a conducting plate adapted to be contacted by the arm on rotation of the cam in one direction and a further conducting a; plate adapted to be contacted by the arm on rotation of the cam in the opposite direction.

3. An electric switch for use with trafilc indicators on motor vehicles comprising a body part, a switch handle mounted thereon, a spindle rotatably mounted in the body part and adapted to be rotated by the switch handle, a radially directed arm carried by the spindle and having a bifurcated outer end, lugs on the body part adapted to limit the extent of angular movement of said arm, a second spindle radially mounted in the body part coaxial with the first, and a radially directed spring arm on the second spindle adapted to be engaged by the bifurcated end of the arm carried by the first spindle.

4. An electric switch for use with trafllc indicators on motor vehicles comprising a body part, a switch handle mounted thereon, a spindle mounted in the body part and adapted to be rotated by the switch handle, a radially directed arm carried by the spindle, lugs on the body part adapted to limit the extent of angular movement of said arm, a second spindle rotatably mounted in the body part coaxial with the first, a radially directed arm on the second spindle, at least one of said arms being a sprin arm and co-operating parts at the outer ends of the two arms whereby on rotation of the handle in one direction the second spindle is rotated in that direction and on rotation of the handle in the opposite direction the second spindle is rotated in the opposite direction.

ALBERT HENRY MDDGLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,200,460 Booraem Oct. 10, 1916 1,555,497 Junghans Sept. 29, 1925 1,583,601 I Mitchell May 4, 1926 1,870,682 Heising Aug. 9, 1932 2,170,715 Grantham Aug. 22, 1939 2,230,994 Arbuckle Feb. 11, 1941 

